MEDIA RELEASE

During the week of August 15-22, 2005, Big Island police arrested 24 motorists for drunk driving. Two of the drivers were under the age of 21.

So far this year, there has been a revised total of 686 DUI arrests, compared to 671 during the same period last year, a decrease of 2 percent. The number of arrests by district were:

DUI Arrests by District

District

Weekly Total

Year to Date

Hamakua

1

8

North Hilo

0

2

South Hilo

6

163

Puna

2

105

Ka’u

0

17

Kona

12

349

South Kohala

2

34

North Kohala

1

8

Island Total

24

686

There have been 1,519 major accidents so far this year, compared to 1,540 during the same period last year, a decrease of 1 percent.

There have been 22 traffic fatalities on the Big Island so far this year, compared to 28 for the same period last year, a decrease of 21 percent. There have been 13 alcohol-related fatalities so far this year, compared to eight at this time last year, an increase of 63 percent. There have been nine drug-related fatalities so far this year, compared to 11 at the same time last year, a decrease of 18 percent.